Kwesi Ernest is pushing back against the outrage that trailed MUSIGA’s GH¢500 donation to the family of the late gospel legend Yaw Sarpong at his one-week observance.
The entertainment executive and artiste manager, speaking on Peace FM on February 21, 2026, said the public reaction has missed the point of what a one-week gathering represents. According to him, the gesture was never meant to define or reduce Sarpong’s four decades of influence in Ghana’s gospel music scene.
He argued that the ceremony is not designed as a platform for financial grandstanding, but rather a moment for relatives, colleagues and industry stakeholders to regroup and prepare for the final funeral rites.
“MUSIGA itself has a special role and mandate it plays towards the funeral that is even bigger than donating money. So, those criticising should relax; the one-week celebration is not an event to show off,” he said.
Ernest maintained that contributions made during such rites are voluntary and should not be subjected to public scrutiny. In his view, giving is a personal decision and no individual or institution should be pressured to meet an unofficial standard.
He further suggested that some MUSIGA members may have supported the bereaved family privately, separate from the officially announced amount, and stressed that the union’s involvement goes beyond what has been reported.
“We should understand how these things work. The one-week celebration is not meant for showing off money. It is for family and friends to come together and plan how the funeral would take place,” he said.
For him, the focus should remain on solidarity and preparation for the main funeral, not on comparing figures.
The backlash began after reports circulated on social media that the Musicians Union of Ghana had donated GH¢500 at Yaw Sarpong’s one-week observance held on February 19, 2026. Critics questioned why a national music body would present what they described as a modest amount.
MUSIGA President Bessa Simons, in a separate interview with TV3, clarified that the GH¢500 was only a token at the one-week event, noting that the union’s official donation would be made at the funeral itself. He also indicated that the organisation has undertaken additional efforts in support of Sarpong’s family beyond the publicised contribution.
